A week has passed since the beginning of the uprising. The United States, Egypt and other nations expressed much concern over the violence. On the information field, Israel was coming under growing media attacks for the handling of the uprising. In the following interview, the prime minister expressed the hope that "in a short time normal life will resume in these areas. " He felt that the situation being as it was, Israeli soldiers often had no other alternative but to open fire. Text:
Q: What steps does Israel intend to take concerning the Yarmuk tributaries?
A: We are handling this issue and no one needs to be told that the water issue is one of the most significant issues to all countries of the region, Israel included. Israel will watch after its own interests.
Q: Are contacts being maintained with additional countries?
A: Contacts are being maintained and the issue is being treated intensively.
Q: With regard to the territories: Couldn't order have been maintained with fewer casualties? Are more sophisticated means being examined?
A: I believe that the IDF is doing its best to prevent casualties; this is the IDFs policy and it acts in this manner in the field. Despite this, unfortunate incidents occur in which persons are killed. The IDF is not to blame for this; the heads of the terrorist organizations - who urge people over whom they possess influence to confront the IDF and to disturb the peace, cause riots and disrupt normal life - are to blame. As a result, IDF soldiers occasionally have no alternative but to open fire; then there are casualties, something which we do not want. I believe that it is immaterial to the terrorist organizations whether or not there are casualties. On the contrary: They want people to be killed, so that they can take advantage of the blood spilled for their propaganda purposes.
Q: Is there any intention to alter the policy or to take additional steps?
A: We are as a matter of course improving the measures that we employ. I believe, however, that the IDF is making a maximum effort to calm the situation and prevent casualties. I assume that in a short time normal life will resume in these
areas, people will be able to go to work, pupils to school, and once again a quiet atmosphere will prevail.
Q: It appears that Israeli Arabs are concerned by the situation. Do you have anything to tell them?
A: I believe that Arab Israelis are sufficiently familiar with the people that reside here and the Israel government, that they understand that our intention is to maintain quiet, preserve order and refrain from causing casualties. I do not believe that they have any special reason for concern with the policies of the Israel government. They may feel concern resulting from the activities of terrorist organizations, but they haven't any influence over the latter and will certainly refrain from any sort of response.
Q: Egypt has also expressed concern. Is Israel maintaining contacts with it?
A: Contacts are being maintained. There is an Egyptian ambassador here, and we have an ambassador in Egypt. Regular contacts are maintained. I'd like to hope that Egypt is interested in calming the situation, and I would like to hope that they will work toward this.